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Organized thieves have hit 90% of all U.S. retailers in the past year, and their actions force merchants to raise prices, Broward County, Fla., Sheriff Scott Israel said at NRF's Loss Prevention Conference this week. More than 200 vendors showed off new tech tools to fight organized retail theft, including cameras that help analyze shoppers' behavior.

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About 82% of consumers want to see the same prices on products online and in stores, up from 69% the year before, but only a third of merchants kept pricing consistent on more than 80% of products, according to a report from Accenture. The report also found other areas where retailers aren't yet living up to shoppers' wishes, from offering free Wi-Fi in stores to making mobile transactions more seamless.

Dillard's has contracted with Hickey Freeman to manufacture a line of men's suits and jackets at the company's factory in Rochester, N.Y. The deal will move manufacturing from Italy and boost production for the once-floundering factory by 10% to 15%.

U.K. luxury bag maker Mulberry launched a line of less-expensive bags two weeks ago that it hopes will help turn around flagging sales. The Tessie line came after criticism that Mulberry's efforts to woo wealthy foreign shoppers came at the expense of core customers at home.

Aspirational shoppers whose belts are still tight after the recession are spending on sunglasses, an affordable luxury that can change up a look without investing in an entire new outfit. Sales of women's sunglasses rose 9% last year, compared to 4% for women's apparel, according to NPD Group.

Private-equity firm Sycamore Partners has acquired a 9.9% stake in fashion retailer Express, and it aims to make a bid for the rest of the company. Sycamore, whose other retail investments include Aeropostale and Hot Topic, has asked the company for access to the books so it can determine a price.